THE "TO BE" ATTITUDES: APPLICATION

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

He said:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1-12)


The Beatitudes are Jesus’ teachings of how he wants us to live—a life modeled after him—having Jesus’ heart (mourning for the human condition, being meek, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, being merciful, being pure in heart, being a peacemaker, being persecuted).

The Beatitudes are about understanding at a soul level that we are unworthy of the God’s love, grace and mercy. It’s about living with gratitude because God loves us anyway, grants us grace anyway. Is merciful to us anyway. Even though—especially since—we don’t deserve it.

The Beatitudes are about submission to God; being humbled; knowing that we are insignificant in the grand scheme of things; but God loves us anyway.

The Beatitudes are about being merciful to others because God is merciful to us.

The Beatitudes are about living like Christ in all things, no matter how difficult; no matter how opposed it is to our personal nature; no matter, no matter.

Jesus never promised life would be easy when we followed him. In fact, he specifically said it would be hard. But there are rewards. Blessings. Given freely, not as brownie points but because we have a God who loves us unconditionally and blesses us abundantly, smiling on us when we turn our hearts to Him and when we become like Him in the tiniest way.

The application of the Beatitudes, is to follow Jesus’ example. Jesus temporarily set aside his divinity and became human. We must set aside our humanity—our sinful inclinations and worldly ways of thinking. We must recognize that nothing we can do on our own will save us. Only God can do that. And when we accept that truth and live accordingly, we are blessed.

We just need that "can do" attitude; that "to be" attitude.

 
PRAYER: Jesus, thank you for your example of living and for preserving for us some of your precious sermons. Thank you for making us teachable and for revealing truths to us through your parables and teachings. Help us apply your truths in a way that points others to you. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Which of the Beatitudes spoke loudest to you? Why?

　

THE "TO BE" ATTITUDES: PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-11)

　
We look at the early Christian martyrs and marvel at their courage and faith. But many Christians today are martyred for their faith—many statistics say that in this century more have been martyred than in the first 20 centuries of Christianity combined.

In many countries today it is against the law to be a Christian.

In this country we profess to have freedom of religion, but in reality, more and more Christians feel apologetic about their faith. Not apologetic as in C.S. Lewis’s argument for the faith; but feeling that they cannot declare their faith to others without feeling like they are somehow offending them.

• Children are not allowed to pray at school.
• Nativity scenes are not allowed at public buildings.
• The Ten Commandments are removed from courthouses.
• The phrase "Evangelical Christian" when spoke in politics is said with a sneer.

The suffering of Christians is not about being punished for evil or unlawful acts. The suffering and persecution Jesus spoke of was being punished for being righteous.

Have you ever known someone who lashes out against a friend for doing good? Not because the friend did good but because doing good shows the rest of us up for who we really are—falling short of our duty, our ideals, what we know to be right and good.

People who are righteous show others up. Sometimes the unrighteous hate the righteous because the righteous illuminate their own dark hearts and show the world who they really are.

When believers try to live a righteous life, they become distinguished from the rest of the world. The world may misinterpret our conduct and view us as feeling as if we are above them; better than they are; hoity-toity.

To many people, sin is fun. It is associated with pleasure, living life on the edge, it’s all fine as long as it’s between consenting adults. The Holy Spirit has the power to convict people, but if we sin, we don’t want to be convicted. We may secretly feel guilty and so we lash out at people who struggle not to sin—making fun of their struggle, encouraging them to give up, cheering when they fail and fall back into sin.

Blaming others is always easier than accepting responsibility and doing what is right. Blaming Christians, making fun of them, persecuting them feels good and distracts attention away from the ungodly for a moment.

A sinner fights against God. He can’t get back at God so he does the next best thing—he attacks those who follow God.

Jesus told us that if we follow him, we will be persecuted.

If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.  (John 15:20)

Jesus came to Earth and lived as a human so that he could show us an example of how to live. If we truly desire to follow him, we desire to be like him and live like him. We don’t always succeed, but we try. When we do, he tells us—promises us—that we will be persecuted.

So what if you do not feel like you are being persecuted? Could it be that you are just one of the lucky few?

Or are you perhaps not living as righteous a life as God wishes?

Or perhaps you are not letting God’s light shine so brightly through you that the world even knows that you are a Christian.

Fortunately when we are persecuted, we are not alone. Not only do we have the companionship of other believers to support and encourage us, we also have the strength of the Holy Spirit living in us. And the strength of Jesus that enables us to do all things.

And each time we are persecuted and survive, we become stronger and more assured in our faith. Each time God delivers us, we trust Him more.

And when we are persecuted we understand:

• The strength of our faith.
• Our faith is worthy of our suffering.
• We have been chosen by God.
• We are children of God.
• Our salvation is sure.
• We are truly not of this world even though we are in this world.
• We are in good company.
• Ours is the kingdom of heaven.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus. Thank you Jesus for your example of living. We do so want to live a life worthy of your sacrifice. We want to be more Christ-like in everything we do, say and are. Please help us stand firm and in righteousness, even amid persecution. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you sometimes feel persecuted for Jesus’ sake?

THE "TO BE" ATTITUDES: HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

The fourth Beatitude is this:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

(Matthew 5:6)









Righteousness

Righteousness encompasses those things Paul lists in Philippians:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

Righteousness is a life style. It means subjecting our will to the direction of Jesus. It is accepting our duty to live a life like Christ; doing what he would have done and doing it how he would have done it. Being righteous means understanding whether something is right or wrong, just or unjust, godly or ungodly because the Holy Spirit, living in us has the power to convict.

The Holy Spirit’s conviction leads to transition and then to conversion.

For the Lord is righteous; He loves righteousness; And the upright will behold His face. (Psalms 11:7)

Seeing God’s face? That’s righteousness.
　

Hunger and Thirst

Hunger and thirst are ongoing appetites. We eat a hearty breakfast and are hungry again for lunch. We have a glass of water in the afternoon and another before bedtime. Hunger and thirst must be satisfied often.

Similarly, we seek constant nourishment of righteousness. As a person seeks after God, his thirst for righteousness must be met continuously. This Beatitude is God’s promise that a hunger and thirst for righteousness is pleasing to Him. The person will be blessed by God’s satisfying that hunger and thirst. God desires to be sought and He desires to be known.

A child of God seeks righteousness on a second-to second basis, desiring to be possessed by righteousness, to constantly live in it, to be absorbed into it and by it. A righteous life fills the true believer with peace and joy.

That’s a blessing!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we love you so. Jesus, we desire to live a life like you did—following your example of righteousness. Holy Spirit, we ask you to help us attune our minds and hearts to your leading so that our hunger and thirst for righteousness can be increased and then filled in a way that is pleasing to you. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? In what practical way do you hunger and thirst for righteousness?